Volume 126 Issue 14
kansan.com
Monday, September 16, 2013
ASHLEY BOOKER
abooker@kansan.com
Lego released a new Minifigure character on Sept. 1 that they hope will break female stereotypes.
The newest member is different than Lego's portrayals of females in the past 10 years. She is a scientist named Professor C. Bodin who is dressed in a lab coat, wearing glasses and holding two flasks of different chemicals.
The scientist's bio on the Lego website states that "she'll spend all night in her lab analyzing how to connect bricks of different sizes and shapes," and that she won the Nobrick Prize.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY GEORGE MULLINIX
According to a study done by Scientific American, the ratio of male to female Lego minifigures is 4:1 in favor of males, with most of the females being portrayed in stereotypical, sexist ways. This new representation of women in
science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers is an important social advancement that many women have waited for.
Barbara Barnett, the associate dean of journalism, said that there
are only two images of women in the media.
ter." We think everything is normal until we get out of the water and ask questions like, "why has society made this okay?"
This image is a representation of
Lee said that this conscious shift toward non-sexist toys like the
what associate professor Tien- Tsung Lee wants to show in his Diversity in Media class.
"I think there are a lot of girls that don't get that support. That's where our problem lies."
When discussing gender roles in the media, Lee said he teaches his students to be "like a fish out of wa-
NICOLE RISSKY
Senior from Tecumseh, Kan.
temale Lego scientist "should have happened decades and decades ago. Or maybe people would want to say centuries ago."
"I think the toy is a good example you are changing the
water," Lee said.
This change can also be seen in STEM careers that are slowly gaining more female members.
During the 2012-13 academic year, the KU School of Engineering
Over the summer, Jacquelyn Pedigo, the outreach coordinator for the School of Engineering puts on a two-week summer camp for high school girls. This summer camp shows young girls what type of departments the school has to offer.
consisted of only 18.2% females, but despite the low representation of women, the school has outreach programs to increase interest in engineering for both males and females.
In the time that Pedigo has worked at the summer camp she said that she has learned that many young girls want to make the world a better place, and believes this is why chemical engineering is 50 percent female at the University.
The School of Engineering's Self Engineering Leadership Fellows (SELF) Program also informs high school students what the school is
all about.
During junior Caitlin Uyemura's senior year of high school in Osage City, a SELF member came to her hometown. The member talked about wanting to make medicine for kids with Spina Bifida, and then switching her interest to makeup, and eventually going into chemical and plastics.
"Within one major there are so many opportunities, and I was really interested in that," Uyemura said.
Despite the opportunities in STEM careers, there is a stigma that mostly men work in these fields.
Nicole Risky, a senior from Tecumseh, said she was never really confronted by this stereotype. She was told quite the opposite and was supported by both her family members and professors.
"I think there are a lot of girls that don't get that support. That's where our problem lies.
When you get told you can't do something over and over again, you can go one of two ways: prove them wrong and do it anyway, or shy away to the norm you believe society has for you," Rissky said. It's too early to tell if the new Lego figures will change unfair stereotypes about women, but the intention to do so is clearly there. The creator of the project is Alatariel Elensar, who says she is an isotope geochemist.
"Although recently Lego has started to design and add more female figures to their sets, they are still a minority," Elensar wrote on Lego's website. "I have designed some professional female minifigures that also show that girls can become anything they want."
Edited by Sarah Kramer
SERVICE
YVONNE SAEZ/KANSAN
The executive board of Hawks Helping Hawks organization poses for a picture. Students interested in joining should follow @JayHHHawks for the time and location of the Sept. 29 meeting.
New philanthropy assists students with finances
JENNIFER SALVA
isalva@kansan.com
Hawks Helping Hawks, a new philanthropic organization at the University, aims to help students in financial need.
Zach George, a junior from Ottawa and president of Hawks Helping Hawks, along with 14 students who now comprise the board, wanted to create a philanthropic campaign where money would go directly to students who are struggling to make ends meet.
Students who are struggling financially will be able to apply for a "Student Opportunity Award" which can range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand, depending on an individual's circumstances, George said.
A student board will be assembled from members of different groups around campus to choose
"The goal is to strengthen the Jayhawk family and create a culture of giving at the University," George said.
Hawks Helping Hawks is currently working with the Office of Financial Aid to be able to consider students' financial need in confidentiality, as well as make sure that an award will not affect
which applicants will receive awards, George said. The group hopes to generate enough funds to give their first Student Opportunity Award this fall.
SEE HAWKS PAGE 3
CAMPUS
CLAS program promotes interaction with professors
JOSE MEDRANO imedrano@kansan.com
Having a conversation with a professor in a class of a more than a hundred students can be difficult; having a one-on-one interaction with a professor can be even harder. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences allows students to have lunch with a professor in
order to interact and get to know each other better through the "Take Your Professor to Lunch" program.
"I like to get to know a student a little bit more personally," biology professor Craig Martin said.
said.
"In a class of a thousand it can be difficult, but this program allows that."
around 10 students approach him every semester to go out to lunch. Professors and students not only discuss class related topics but personal topics as well.
Melissa Corder is a senior psychology major who has taken several professors out to lunch.
The program allows students to take a professor to eat at the Underground, the Market or the Crimson Cafe by using vouchers to cover the meal cost for both students and faculty members.
"The most common question I get is, do I really like this music I play?" said Martin, who plays heavy metal at the beginning of lectures. Martin usually has
"We talk about all different sorts of things," said Corder, who had lunch with her former math instructor earlier
"The best thing about it is that you really get to know a student almost as a friend."
CRAIG MARTIN Biology professor
structor earlier last week. "We talked about my career plans and the recent passing of my father."
Students have to schedule a lunch time with the professor or faculty member
before filling out the application for the lunch. The application must then be submitted at least one week prior to the scheduled lunch date in order to get approval for the voucher.
"There are so many purposes for this," Corder said. "A lot of students think that they can use professors as references for when they go to grad school or when they go to get a job, but they're more than just people who you can use as references. They're potential colleagues, advisers and
Both Corder and Martin encourage faculty members and students to take part in the lunch program.
The program limits students to one lunch voucher per academic year, but that doesn't apply to faculty members. The voucher is also limited to $15 to cover meals for both the professor and the student. Any expense above that amount has to come out of pocket. Both Corder and Martin encourage faculty members and students
The best thing about it is that you really get to know a student almost as a friend," Martin said.
"I've established friendships with students through the program that continue now."
The lunch program is only available to students who are pursuing academic degrees and majors within the college. Pre-professional majors are also eligible to take part in the program. Students can eat together in groups with their professor, exceeding no more than three people per group.
The "Take Your Professor to Lunch" program is available to students throughout the academic year. The application and more information can be found at collegeku.edu/academics/lunch.
Edited by Casey Hutchins
CLASSIFIEDS 11
CROSSWORD 5
CRYPTOQUIPS 5
OPINION 4
friends."
nts, unifies stated otherwise; © 2013 The University Daily Kansan
Don't forget
ring an umbrella to class
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